Karnataka: CM placates MH Ambareesh, his loyalist to get key post

BELAGAVI: The face-off between housing minister M H Ambareesh and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over appointments in Mandya district ended on Thursday following an assurance that the minister’s supporter would be given a key post in the near future.

Sources in the party said Mr Siddaramaiah asked co-operation minister H. S. Mahadev Prasad to speak to Mr Ambareesh following a letter in which he complained that he was not consulted about appointments to key government and party posts in his home district, Mandya. Besides, Mr Siddaramaiah also spoke to Mr Ambareesh today.

Clarifying that there were no major differences of opinion between him and the minister, Mr Siddaramaiah told the media at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha here: “I have personally spoken to him (Mr Ambareesh) over the phone and sorted out the problem. I have clarified that I am not overtly interested in getting involved in politics in Mandya district, and that all issues can be sorted out after discussing them with the department heads concerned.”

He added that he saw no reason for a leader like Mr Ambareesh to be worried about such issues. “One of the issues highlighted by Mr Ambareesh in his letter is about appointments to DCC bank. Firstly, whoever has been appointed in Mandya, was elected unopposed. So, how can I be held responsible for interfering in internal matters of Mandya district?” he retorted.

Later, Mr Ambareesh told Deccan Chronicle in Bengaluru that he decided to put an end to the issue following Mr Siddaramaiah’s assurance to look into issues raised by him.